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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
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19th September 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Questions about the Holy See
I recently ran a competition on Twitter, inviting questions about the Holy See and the UK’s relationship with it. The response was impressive, with many searching questions. Below are the winners, their questions, and slightly lengthier answers than the 140 characters Twitter permits. Q. What made possible the great shift from historical anti-Catholicism to dialogue […]
19th September 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Languages of Diplomacy
When I learned Swedish before coming out to Stockholm I did so at a language centre in the city of London. This week the Foreign Office has reopened its own language centre, part of our “Diplomatic Excellence” campaign, to improve the skills of our people, the quality of our policy-making and the relevance of our […]
19th September 2013 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Ferghana
I visited the Ferghana valley for the first time at the end of last week which means, I think, that I have been in all the viloyats of Uzbekistan except for Surkhandarya. I’ll try to get there before the end of the year. My first impression of the Valley was the contrast between the arid […]
18th September 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The most British tea in Britain
Is anything as quintessentially British as a “cup of tea”? I’m delighted that our GREAT Campaign has proudly partnered with British producer Tregothnan Tea, whose excellent website includes the fine slogan: “Tea is liquid wisdom”. British tea is justifiably famous. Apparently people in the UK consume 165 million cups a day. But Tregothnan tea is more British than most. This is […]
18th September 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
What goes up must come down
Last week the Jordanian national football team “Nashama” beat Uzbekistan in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, inching closer to qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. It was a tremendous win and Amman erupted into celebrations as enthusiastic supporters drove round town honking their horns and waving flags. Unfortunately, some supporters also fired their guns […]
17th September 2013 Toronto, Canada
Canadian science news: 9-15 September 2013
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17th September 2013 Athens, Greece
Wanderings on Athos, the Holy Mountain
When I was 19 I tried for the first time to gain a permit to enter the Holy Mountain. I am an Anglican and a believer, and have long been interested in monasticism and Orthodox spirituality. In 1987, my application was unsuccessful and I rather lost heart; I have waited over 25 years to fill […]
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16th September 2013 Warsaw, Poland
The Last Night of the Proms – a GREAT Finale to a GREAT Bus Tour of Poland
An action packed day taking us from the main square in Poznan to Wroclaw and on to Katowice and then Krakow. A GREAT Bus Tour led by our two GREAT Minis. 10 000 kms and over 20 GREAT cities – a GREAT Polish welcome in each and so many business discussions. Krakow, historic capital of […]
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16th September 2013 Montreal, Canada
The love and peas revolution
I’ve noticed a fascinating trend in my neighbourhood. The streets are home to more and more sidewalk containers branding the logo – Free Food – (“Nourriture à Partager, Servez-vous!”) where fresh vegetables, fine herbs and small fruits are free for the taking…
16th September 2013 Geneva, Switzerland
No room at the UN
September didn’t used to be like this. It was the session which could be relied upon for a genteel beginning as delegates eased themselves in after the summer, meeting new colleagues and renewing old acquaintances before getting down to some serious Council business. But not any more. This session has got off to a blistering […]